Auburn Tigers in the NFL - Week 9

Auburn Tigers in the NFL - Week 9Auburn Tigers in the NFL - Week 9

Nov. 7, 2017

Montravius Adams (DT, Green Bay Packers)
Adams saw the field for the second time this season, but did not record a stat in the Packer's 30-17 loss to Detroit Monday night. The Vienna, Ga., native became the 17th Auburn defensive tackle drafted in the common draft era, and the highest defensive tackle picked from Auburn since Nick Fairley was drafted 13th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.


Cameron Artis-Payne (RB, Carolina Panthers)
Artis-Payne saw offensive snaps for the second week in a row, carrying the ball for three yards on one attempt in Carolina's 20-17 win over the Falcons. The third-year man out of Harrisburg, Pa., rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 11 yards in three games in his second year in 2016. Artis-Payne was the 34th Auburn running back drafted in the common draft era when he was selected by the Panthers in the fifth round of the 2015 draft.


Peyton Barber (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Barber led the Buccaneers' backfield in carries on Sunday, recording 34 yards on 11 attempts in Tampa Bay's 30-10 loss to the Saints. Barber also had two receptions for 20 yards. The second year Alpharetta, Ga. native has 83 rushing yards and 20 receiving yards though the first nine weeks of the season. Barber made the Buccaneers' 53-man roster after going undrafted in 2016. The Alpharetta, Ga. native rushed for 223 yards and one touchdown in 2016. Barber also had 28 yards on 5 catches in his rookie season.


Daren Bates (LB, Tennessee Titans)
Bates recorded one tackle and recovered an onside kick to clinch the game in the Titans 23-20 win over Baltimore. Bates has four tackles on the season. A special teams captain, Bates appeared in 16 games with the Raiders in 2016. The undrafted fifth-year man out of Memphis, Tenn., has compiled 41 tackles, recovered two fumbles and blocked one kick in his career.


Angelo Blackson (DT, Houston Texans)
Blackson saw the field, but did not record a stat in the Texans' 20-14 loss to Indianapolis. Blackson was signed off the Patriots practice squad and promoted to the Texans active roster on Tuesday. The third-year man out of Wilmington, Del., appeared in all 16 games as a rookie for the Titans. Over the course of that year, Blackson totaled 15 tackles, 2.5 sacks, forced one fumble and recovered it. The Bear, Del., native was drafted in the fourth round with the 100th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Blackson and Gabe Wright became the first defensive tackle tandem to be drafted out of Auburn since Nick Fairley and Zach Clayton in 2011. In his career, Blackson has made 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, defended one pass, forced one fumble and recovered it.


Quan Bray (WR, Indianapolis Colts)
Bray returned one kickoff for 17 yards and fielded five punts, returning three of them for 24 yards in the Colts' 20-14 win over Houston. The LaGrange, Ga., native has three receptions for 39 yards, 18 kick returns for 430 yards and 17 punt returns for 90 yards on the season. Bray is averaging 25.6 yards on 48 kick returns for a total of 1,231 yards and 7 yards on 45 punt returns for a total of 314 yards in his career. Bray's longest kick return is 60 yards and his longest punt return is 33 yards. Bray has also caught six passes for 75 yards and has seven yards rushing on one attempt.


Josh Bynes (LB, Arizona Cardinals)
Bynes saw the field but did not record a stat in the Cardinals' 20-10 win over San Francisco. Bynes has seen the field in every game of his seventh NFL season, recording 15 total tackles (13 solo), one sack and one forced fumble through the first eight games. Bynes signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Over his career, he's amassed 236 tackles (154 solo), 82 assisted tackles, one and a half sacks,14 pass deflections, one interception and three forced fumbles.


Sammie Coates (WR, Cleveland Browns)
Coates and the Browns were on a bye. Nine games into his third season, the second-year man from Leroy, Ala., has 25 receptions for 470 yards (an average of 18.8 yards per catch with a long of 72 yards), two touchdowns, four rushes for 14 yards, six kickoff returns for 150 yards and 12 tackles. Coates became the first Auburn wide receiver drafted since 2007 when the Steelers selected him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.


Shon Coleman (OT, Cleveland Browns)
Coleman and the Browns were on a bye. The Olive Branch, Miss., native has been one of the bright spots for the Browns as he's started every game this season. Coleman was the first Tiger taken off the board in the 2016 NFL Draft, going 76th overall in the third round. Coleman saw action in seven games during his rookie season. The Browns rushed for 160+ yards in both games he saw action at right tackle. Coleman helped the Browns finish second in the NFL with a 4.89 rushing average, the highest by Cleveland since 1966.


Blake Countess (DB, LA Rams)
Countess matched his season high, recording three tackles (one solo) in the Rams' 51-17 win over the New York Giants. Countess has amassed 15 total tackles (12 solo) through the first nine weeks of the season. Countess was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 21st pick of the sixth round in the 2016 draft. He was the first Auburn defensive back drafted since Walter McFadden in 2010. He had 20 tackles and 8 assists in his first year in 2016.


Karlos Dansby (LB, Arizona Cardinals)
After turning 36 years old Friday, Dansby celebrated Sunday by recording his 20th career interception, sealing the game against San Francisco and becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to record at least 40 sacks and 20 interceptions in his career, joining Seth Joyner, Ray Lewis, Wilber Marshall and Brian Urlacher. The 14-year veteran recorded seven tackles (five solo), one sack, two pass deflections and an interception in the Cardinals' 20-10 win over San Francisco. Dansby has a season total 44 tackles (34 solo), one sack, three pass deflections and one interception through the first nine weeks of the season. The Birmingham, Ala. native has racked up 1,366 tackles (1,033 solo), 43.0 sacks, 20 interceptions (six returned for touchdowns) and 18 forced fumbles during his time with the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.
Video:
https://twitter.com/AZCardinals/status/927330062629724165

Nick Fairley (DT, New Orleans Saints)
Fairley will likely miss the entirety of his seventh year in the NFL because of a heart issue. The former first round draft pick and Lombardi Award winner from Mobile, Alabama has racked up 170 tackles (113 solo), 20.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles over his six years in the NFL. [IR]


Dee Ford (LB, Kansas City Chiefs)
Ford was held out of the Chiefs' 28-17 loss to Dallas due to injury. The Odenville, Ala., native had 38 tackles (25 solo), 10 sacks and a forced fumble last season. Ford became the highest-drafted Auburn defensive end since Gerald Robinson in 1986 when the Chiefs selected him 23rd overall in the 2014 draft. Ford has 82 tackles in his career, including 17.5 sacks, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles.


Rudy Ford (DB, Arizona Cardinals)
Ford recorded his second tackle of the season in the Cardinals' 20-10 victory over San Francisco. The rookie cornerback has seen action in every game this season. Ford was drafted with the 24th pick of the sixth round by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2017 NFL draft. He and Joshua Holsey are the first pair of defensive backs from Auburn to be drafted in the same year since Pat Lee and Jonathan Wilhite in 2008.


Corey Grant (RB, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Grant had four rushes for 18 yards and returned one kick return for 29 yards in the Jaguars 23-7 win over Cincinnati. The third-year man from Opelika, Ala., has 26 kick returns for 611 yards (an average of 23.5 yards per kickoff) with a long of 42, has made eight tackles and has nine receptions for 89 yards (an average of 9.9 yards per catch) and a touchdown in his career. Grant also has 57 rushes for 289 yards (an average of 5.1 yards per carry) and a touchdown with a long of 58 yards in his career.


Josh Harris (LS, Atlanta Falcons)
Harris served as a captain and long snapper in Atlanta's 20-17 loss to the Panthers. The Carrolton, Ga., native, now in his sixth season, has served as Atlanta's long snapper in all 87 games of his NFL career.


Josh Holsey (DB, Washington Redskins)
Holsey saw the field for the fourth game in a row, but did not record a stat in the Redskins' 17-14 win over Seattle. Holsey was drafted with the 17th pick of the seventh round in the 2017 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He and Rudy Ford are the first pair of defensive backs from Auburn to be drafted in the same year since Pat Lee and Jonathan Wilhite in 2008.


Jonathan Jones (DB, New England Patriots)
Jones and the Patriots were on a bye. Eight games into his sophomore season, Jones has 15 tackles, six pass breakups and one game-clinching interception. The Carrollton, Ga., native made the Patriots' 53-man roster after going undrafted in 2016. Jones went on to make 14 tackles, force two fumbles and defend one pass in his rookie season.


Brandon King (DB, New England Patriots)
King and the Patriots were on a bye. The Alabaster, Ala., native has four tackles and one safety on the season. Eight games into his third season, King has compiled 26 combined tackles, forced one fumble, forced one safety and appeared on special teams. King was picked up by New England after going undrafted in 2015.


DaVonte Lambert (DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Lambert did not play in the Buccaneers' 30-10 loss to New Orleans. Lambert has not yet played in the 2017 after being placed on the IR due to a dislocated wrist shortly before the season began. Lambert has recorded 14 tackles (9 solo) in his one year as a Buccaneer. Lambert made the Buccaneers 53-man roster after not being drafted in 2016. The Keysville, Ga., native had 48 career tackles at Auburn.


Chris Landrum (LB, San Diego Chargers)
Landrum and the Chargers were on a bye. Landrum will likely be on the Chargers' injury reserve for the season because of a shoulder injury. In his rookie season, the Meridian, Miss., native saw action in 10 games, recording four tackles and a sack.


Devaroe Lawrence (DT, New Orleans Saints)
Lawrence signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent this offseason and is currently on the IR. Lawrence made 45 career tackles during his time on The Plains.


Carl Lawson (DE, Cincinnati Bengals)
Lawson saw the field, but did not record a stat in the Bengals' 23-7 loss to Jacksonville. Eight games into his rookie season, the Alpharetta, Ga., native has seven tackles, including four and a half sacks. Lawson is tied for second in highest pass rush productivity grades in the NFL by Pro Football Focus with a 15.9. Lawson was drafted with the ninth pick in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He is the first Auburn defensive end drafted since Dee Ford was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 23rd pick of the first round in the 2014 NFL draft.


Ricardo Louis (WR, Cleveland Browns)
Louis and the Browns were on a bye. Eight games into his sophomore season, Louis has 23 receptions for 292 receiving yards (an average of 12.7 yards per catch). During his rookie season, Louis caught 18 passes for 205 yards (an average of 11.4 yards per catch) while making three starts. The Miami, Fla. native also had nine kick returns for 164 yards, nine tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in his rookie season. The Browns selected Louis in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Louis and Sammie Coates (2015 third round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers) were the first pair of Auburn wide receivers to be drafted in consecutive years since Ben Obamanu (2006), Devin Aromashodu (2006) and Courtney Taylor (2007).


Cam Newton (QB, Carolina Panthers)
Newton willed his team to their sixth victory Sunday, completing 13-of-24 passes for 137 yards and rushing nine times for team-high 86 yards and a touchdown in the Panther's 20-17 win over Atlanta. Newton has led his team to a 6-3 start by completing 179-287 passes for 1,978 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing 69 times for 341 yards and four touchdowns through the first nine games of the 2017 season. Newton is returning for his seventh season in the NFL as a Carolina Panther coming off of shoulder surgery this offseason. Last season, Newton passed for 3,509 yards and 19 touchdowns, and he also rushed for 359 yards and five touchdowns. He holds the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns (51 TDs) among quarterbacks, and he is seventh among all active players. He is the first player in Panthers history with 17 300-yard games and is the Panthers career leader with 146 touchdown passes. In 2015, the College Park, Ga., native became the first player in NFL history to pass for 30 touchdowns and rush for 10 touchdowns in a single season. He is the first player in NFL history to start his career with five consecutive seasons with over 3,000 passing yards and 500 yards rushing. In his career, Newton has compiled 23,750 yards through the air with 146 touchdowns and has 3,907 yards on the ground with 52 touchdowns. The 2010 Heisman Trophy winner became Auburn's fourth No. 1 overall pick when Carolina selected him in the 2011 draft.
Twitter video:
https://twitter.com/Panthers/status/927347845086060545

Cody Parkey (PK, Miami Dolphins)
Parkey made one field goal, one extra point and recovered his own onside kick in the Dolphins' 27-24 loss to Oakland. The Jupiter, Fla., native is nine for 10 on field goals with a long of 54 yards, nine for 12 on extra points and has 13 touchbacks this season. Parkey has converted 64-of-75 field goal attempts with a long of 54 yards and is 90-for-94 on extra points in his career. Parkey has also averaged 63.4 yards per kickoff with 96 touchbacks and even four tackles after the sixth game of his fourth career season. Parkey had one of the best rookie seasons by a kicker in NFL history in 2014 as he set the NFL rookie scoring record with 150 points and was named to the 2015 Pro Bowl.
Highlight: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/927359785917325312


Jay Prosch (FB, Houston Texans)
In his second start of the season, Prosch had one reception for one yard in Houston's 20-14 loss to the Colts. Outside of individual stats, Prosch also helped pave the way for 288 yards of offense. Prosch has a 72.4 rating by Pro Football Focus, one of the highest ratings on the Texans and sixth highest fullback rating in the NFL. Prosch's consistent success was validated by the Texans organization with his recently signed three year extension. The Saraland, Ala., native has 10 carries for 42 yards and four receptions for 49 yards in his career. On special teams, Prosch has also racked up 17 tackles. The former Tiger H-Back was a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.


Greg Robinson (OL, Detroit Lions)
Robinson did not play in week nine due to an ankle injury. He has started in 48 games since he joined the NFL in 2014. The Thibodaux, La., native was drafted second overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, the highest-drafted offensive lineman in Auburn history. He played in all 16 games of his rookie season with 12 starts. He has started in 47 of his 51 games played in his career.


Pat Sims (DL, Cincinnati Bengals)
Sims made his seventh start of the season, but did not record a stat as the Bengals lost to Jacksonville 23-7. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native has 19 tackles on the season. Sims had 37 tackles and a sack and a half last season. A third-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Sims was the first Auburn defensive tackle drafted at the time since Mike Pelton was drafted in the fifth round by the Chiefs in the 1995 NFL draft. Sims has compiled 289 tackles, eight and a half sacks, three pass breakups and one interception in his ten-year career.


Neiko Thorpe (DB, Seattle Seahawks)
Thorpe recorded two tackles (one solo) in the Seahawks' 17-14 loss to Washington. Thorpe in his second season as a Seahawk, has recorded six tackles (four solo) and a fumble recovery, playing in six games games through week eight due to an injury in week two. Last season, he appeared in 15 games and compiled 19 tackles (13 solo). Thorpe has made 78 tackles (66 solo) in his NFL career over 5 seasons with the Seahawks, Raiders and Chiefs.


C.J. Uzomah (TE, Cincinnati Bengals)
Uzomah saw the field, but did not record a stat in the Bengals' 23-7 loss to Jacksonville. Although he did not record a stat, he served mainly as a blocker and helped pave the way for 148 yards (119 passing, 29 rushing). Uzomah has three receptions for 39 yards and three tackles on the season. The Suwanee, Ga., native had eight starts, one tackle, 25 receptions for 234 yards (average of 9.4 per catch) with a long of 54 yards and a touchdown last season. Uzomah became the first Auburn tight end drafted since Walter Reeves (1989) when the Bengals selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.


Christian Westerman (OG, Cincinnati Bengals)
Westerman did not see the field in the Bengals' 23-7 loss to Jacksonville. The Chandler, Ariz., native has seen action in eight preseason games with one start in his first two seasons after being picked up in the fifth round (No. 161 overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. Westerman is the first Tiger guard to be drafted since Ben Grubbs was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft.


Jermaine Whitehead, (FS, Green Bay Packers)
Whitehead saw the field but did not record a stat in the Packers' 30-17 loss to Detroit Monday night. Whitehead signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Whitehead split time in his rookie season between the 49ers and Ravens, but has been with the Packers since 2016. Whitehead recorded 218 tackles, nine interceptions and two touchdowns in his three years as a starter for Auburn.


Other former Tigers on NFL practice squads: Cassanova McKinzy (Rams), Chad Slade (Texans), Gimel President (Texans), Gabe Wright (Dolphins)

Report compiled by Auburn Media Relations student assistants T.J. Stricklin and Joseph Hooven